How to Avoid Scams When Selling Used Phones
Common scams when selling phones online, and how to protect yourself.
Common scams
- Overpayment: the buyer 'accidentally' sends too much and asks for a refund. The original payment later bounces.
- Fake payment emails that look like they're from a payment service.
- Verification-code scams: someone asks you to read them a code sent to your phone. Never share these codes.
- Swapping: at a meetup, the buyer swaps your phone for a broken one before paying, or claims you sent a different phone.
Stay safe
- Use payment methods with seller protection, and confirm the money in your own account, not from an email.
- Meet in a public place. Many police stations offer safe exchange spots.
- Write down the serial number before shipping or meeting, but don't post it publicly.
- Don't ship until the payment has fully cleared.